Gentlemen and Ladies; I have been asked by comrades and peers to put forward an official response to questions lately raised and murmured by inquisitive minds on the matter of a subject close to all our hearts, namely;

The Venal Alliance

But first a little background;

Venal is a region to the north of empire space connected by jump gates to Pure Blind and Tribute, which are themselves hinterlands at the verges of Caldari authority, it is a wild place of danger and opportunity, a territory far beyond the reach of concord law and justice, and to for its residents, it is a dream of freedom and possibility beyond the constraints of governmental tyranny and rigid limitation of goals and aspiration.

Venal is the frontier, and a destination for generations now of hardy explorers, reckless miners, bold adventurers and yes, borderline illegals and fugitives from empire law and concord enforcement.

But freedom from concord regulation comes with a price, and in this case it has been the continual predation and assault of organised syndicates like the Gurista pirates, who in seeking to control and regulate the natural resources and opportunities of the Venal region, long threatened a second tyranny most unwelcome to the free-spirited residents of the frontier territory.

But the human spirit is not so easily broken or caged my friends! And the bold frontiersman and adventurous maidens of Venal fought back with wits and cunning, bringing weaponry and starships from blackmarket acquisition in empire space, and striking vigorous blows and crippling wounds to Gurista power by force of arms and strength of heart and vision. Quickly the conflict turned, and victorious now, the free-fighters of Venal drove the scattered remnants of the Gurista navy into the dusty refuge of lonely asteroid fields and scattered the mad and infirm to suicidal blockades of jumpgates, where passing travellers yet transform their onetime dreams of empire to bright coronas of dissipating flame.

And so Venal was freed, but not for national or imperial domination, and not yet for the cloying protectionist blockade of the concord police either. For having won their freedom from one cartel of avaricious vultures, the independent captains of Venal were in no hurry to bend their knees and beg a hollow crust from another!

‘Twas once written in ancient earther history than a nation might be best forged on the united goals of armed freemen each capable of wielding sword and gun and voice in robust defence of common purpose. So it was in Venal, and the first associations of free captains made commitment to common defence, and the individual acquisition of warships and resources to be placed at the service of peers when invasion and external domination threatened.

So armed with kinship, camaraderie, mutual defence, and commitment to the goals of independence from all external influence, the free peoples of Venal prospered, and for a time knew just respite from the winds of malign ill-fortune yet conspiring against them.

And so to Venal today;

It has been said that the Venal Alliance is a “pirate” syndicate, a hive of murderous scum, a den of thieves and outlaws, a stain on the reputation of the Caldari people, and much, much worse.

From an imperial perspective perhaps there is truth here, but Venal is not part of the empires of the inner systems. Venal is not defended by imperial navies, not policed by the concord, not protected by imperial law or made wealthy by imperial trade. Venal stands alone and makes its own law, its own decisions, for the benefits of its own people.

But still on the question of piracy, yes, many of the corporations of Venal do engage in non-consensual armed trade. Many famous rogues and brigands make home and common cause with the free populous of the Venal Region, and many the trader and starship captain who has paid a heavy price for eluding border patrols and straying too close to the starhawks of the Venal irregular space navy.

To these accusations and indeed, factual evidence, the Venal Alliance makes no demurral, and indeed states proudly that the policy will continue for so long as Venal needs to arm its own military to protect the region from aggression within and without this dangerous region of space. For the reality is simple; in empire space the toiling billions of ordinary tax-payers tithe a bounty from their labour to equip the concord and imperial navies for territorial defence and enforcement.

In Venal there is no tax, no standing navy, no defence nor justice unless you choose to make it from personal commitment to arms and war preparation. As a “nation” of sorts the Alliance has access to space stations liberated from the Guristas, but these are few in number and poorly equipped, and scarce indeed the planetary surfaces in our sphere of influence that can support life and flourishing vegetation.

Our economy is based on marginal exploration, bounty hunting, high risk mining, smuggling and myriad small endeavours beyond the watch of hostile powers without, but these accomplishments are next to nothing beside the might of the imperial nations and concord. The starships and defensive weaponry of Venal must therefore come from somewhere, and for a time now the privateering actions of our bold piratical brethren have provided the income the alliance needs to defend the interests of the region.

To those even now howling with anger at this bold admission I would caution you listen yet, for it is the policy of Venal to recognise no law or custom of diplomatic reputation by default, we do not subscribe to the governments of imperial space, nor to the justice system of the concord. Do not think to cower the peoples of Venal with advantages and concepts of sovereign dignity from settled space; if you would understand the Venal Alliance, then understand it as a independent space nation of enlightened owner captains committed to a state of virtual war with those powers and forces committed to our assimilation and unwilling incorporation into the spheres of wider galactic powers. Travel close to Venal without invitation or cause and you travel entirely at your own risk.

We are an island nation in space is the simple truth. We are at war with a hostile outer world of greater means and wicked desire, and to defend our freedom we equip and bless our privateers and bold star captains with letters of marque and civil acclamation in the acquisition of the goods and isk we need to survive.

So,

If you are robbed and left out of pocket, do not curse the Venal Alliance for securing our own defence by means we consider entirely necessary. Instead look to own your future and take the sensible, pragmatic course, of analysing your own failings, your own mistakes. Gain better preparation, improve your skills, acquire superior knowledge of the markets and opportunities and sail when next you do with a greater appreciation of the dangers and perils of interstellar commerce!

But know that Venal will not change, for there are now greater dangers than the Guristas abroad in the galaxy, and the need for strong preparations and warlike prowess is greater now than ever before. In empire space the concord will do what it can to defend the lambs and sheep from the deprivations of intergalactic psychopaths and murderers, in Venal we must defend ourselves. This is why the alliance must and does take the strongest possible line with unauthorised interlopers and invaders.

Venal is ours, our blood claimed these stars with hard sacrifice, our first breath was taken in freedom and our last shall cry out defiance at vain intentions of those who would take it from us.

An official press release on behalf of the Venal Alliance; Jade Constantine (Freelance Publicist and Guerrilla Marketing Consultant)

Jade,I am flabbergasted by this. I love the way you think that by using eloquence and verbosity you can validate an illegal alliance made up of dodgy megalithic corporations and pirate scumbags. The space is not yours or anyone elses to own. Indeed, rights are not given, they are taken, and you have taken the rights from people to freely pass through Venal. Your excuse for attacking travellers entering and passing through Venal, will no doubt be put down to "security risks" and "protecting your way of life". You are pirates, nothing more.

Quote:TTi are sheltering pirates, when those pirates rob you, you will have to fight TTi to get justice.

Though I entirely applaud and understand the depth of your passion monsieur, I beg you have patience to wait until my next Press Release on behalf of Taggart Transdimentional Industries.

Of course, as a fellow spin professional, I sympathise entirely with the need to rhetorically get the retaliation in first m'dear ... but you might be better served to attack the basis of the facts I will shortly be presenting ... fresher meat in any case monsieur, more challenge! More zest in the chase!

Quote:Actually I'd rather hear from TTi than their latest hired mouthpiece.(Even if it is a pretty one)

Oh Morkt Drak!

How dashed unprofessional of you .... would you see a sweet Guerrilla Marketing Consultant out of a job? This TTI contract is both challenging and lucrative. Surely its professional courtesy to accept the role of Publication Relations Mercenaries?

What is the world coming to if we have hired guns but not hired image consultants?

The only thing that differentiates TTI and VA from run of the mill pirates, is that they try to disguise the fact. Your flowery words change nothing about the fact that Venal is a melting pots for rouges and spineless buisinessmen like TTI who finance the entire thing.

She yawns, making a mental note not to listen to press conferences in the future; at least not during the overnight delivery flights, when stars begin to blur more than usual... and when the long, rounded sentences full of images painted with nothing but blue and pink drive one into sleep far too easily.

... when you buy from TTi, you support pirates! ... shame ...

The yells get louder, excited... nearly drunk with their own power and causing a frown; thoughts inadvertly skim towards the containers resting quietly in the cargo bay. The Egone senses the shift of the mood, responding with immediate change of the broadcast; the change most welcome.

A small space station pops up on the screen; hung on the edge of a rusty moon, today's destination far from the main routes and by the most forgotten. The ship sound systems come to life.

Requesting docking permission ... Docking request accepted.

The ship surely descends towards the hangar, towed and secured by magnetic beams; at the last moment before it rests nailed against the platform like a giant moth, the persistent thought somehow finds the way out.

Quote:The only thing that differentiates TTI and VA from run of the mill pirates is that they try to disguise the fact. Your flowery words change nothing about the fact that Venal is a melting pot for rogues and spineless businessmen like TTI who finance the entire thing.

Believe me sweet femme, there is not a great deal of funding goes on. Most Venalites earn an honest wage by their own endeavours. But I rather like the image of a melting pot for rogues and pirates … mmm, now if we can only land the holography rights …

Quote:Ah well. Looks like Jericho are just as susceptible to ISK as the rest of them. Shame that.

Who mentioned ISK Macumba … I just said lucrative … you might ask someone who understands my hungers and desires more intimately monsieur ;)

Quote:Not only TTi have to depend on running dogs to fight their wars, they also feel necessary to hire a ***** to do their press release.

I assure you Princess that the only running dogs in Venal recently have been mOo invaders and their lackeycorp ™ fall guys. And as for my profession, really m’dear are you sure you are old enough to be reading my memoirs?

Jade has our most sincere admiration.I hope some day our modest little club will include a PR agent who can even approach the grace and intelligence that exudes from all she presents us, here's looking forward to a long and productive enmity.

Oh and I do hope she'll come for a visit to my pleasure ship one of these days

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